ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Damien: "16 inch blocks? Gotcha. Got saws or knives or something for that?"

School Safehouse #???

-before the last "dangerous" even reaches Nitrogen's larynx, Molybdenum's SEP field flares like night-

Molybdenum: ~And Mewtwo's helix, keep thoughts like that inside!~

-afraid, Molybdenum layers a bomb through that phrase, set to burn for any witness, shuffling it in-

-furious, she slaps the Key Stone's pain aside-

Molybdenum: ~Maybe don't repay the favor I'm so kindly offering by saying out loud, here something that will make me kill you!~

-conflicted, she encourages Nitrogen's fingers to relax, as offensively intimate as if she'd laced her fingers through hers and unfolded them herself-

-this is what it was to be a Psychic undergraduate, and-

Molybdenum: ~If you want to see eye-to-eye with me, get on my level.~

-you could pull the reprimand's cadence from any scientist to unruly experiment: didactic. dispassionate. demeaning-

-right?-

Edited by Asterisk395 on Dec 8th 2022 at 7:20:35 AM

School Slightly-Less-Safe-Than-A-Moment-Ago-House

-With her pain response overridden, Nitrogen's grip on the Key Stone tightens further until encouraged to relax.-

-That is to say, her grip relaxes, but the rest of her doesn't. Fear can't feed her if it's her own, right?-

Nitrogen: ...l-like I said. Dangerous. Scrub... whatever you need to scrub. You're lucky, you know— if I had your power, I'd do it myself, but regrettably, I am a hunter, and the perfect version of myself pertains to that. Filter out the muck, and I will prove I am on your level.

-in this world, the world of Pokemon, challenges are issued by seeing eye-to-eye-

-can you run from a fellow Pokemon wielder's challenge, Molybdenum?-

Zee's Cabin, past

Zee: -Hands Damian a saw- Here you go.

School Tissue Bank

Chiyo: -Notices Adelinde's first response but chooses not to bring attention to it- It's Chiyo now, and I have no plans on dying here.

-Walking forward-

I remember when we first met, it wasn't much of a fight. Now you just kill children for a living, like it's something to be proud of.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Dec 8th 2022 at 8:58:10 AM

Damien nods and tries to get to work sawing. He seems to have the measurements down but clearly hasn't used a saw much.

Meat Palace

-Grits my teeth as the Rollout connects with Azumi-no-isora-

Rollout gets stronger with every use, we need to figure out how to stop it, or this meat factory's gonna look more like a pancake house!

Pink: -Is having Galen scan for weaknesses-

Veilstone Outskirts, far past

Chiyo: Nothing, Channah? Or are you just very good at compartmentalizing? What about your mons?

-To Channah-

Then we don't need to mention it. Tagg won't buy it, but he probably isn't going to pry too hard unless he thinks it's absolutely necessary.

Zee's Cabin, past

Zee: -To Damien- Your position's wrong.

-She starts adjusting him with her hands-

Now try it.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Dec 8th 2022 at 9:16:03 AM

Damien blushes a bit as she adjusts him but focuses and begins to saw more.

Damien: "Thanks."

School Tissue Bank

Adelinde: Don't be ridiculous. I kill Truants for a living. The kids are a practical matter.

-she doesn't take a step back as Chiyo walks forward, watching her with all the half-lidded interest of a Liepard in the sun-

I liked the speech you gave. Listened to it on loop for a while, so I could really understand it. You would have done so much good here, if you'd stayed.

I remember that fight too, of course. I remember every fight, everyone I've killed, every success, every failure. I go over those too. I see what could have been done better.

I was younger, when we crossed blades. I hadn't been properly honed. I hadn't yet lost Cecilia. But I learned from you. In a very real way, you helped me take the first steps into who I am today. For that, I thank you.

-she bows at the waist, keeping her eyes fixed on Chiyo-

But you really will need to give me some reason not to teleport past you and kill your Templar stool Pidove before I deal with you.

Zee's Cabin, past

Zee: -To Damien- Yeah well, you're welcome. Quicker you figure this out the easier the winter will be.

School Tissue Bank

Chiyo: -Arms crossed- I never would have reached my full potential if I was stuck here, doing what they wanted me to do, killing who they wanted to kill. I would've still been that scared little girl hiding behind her barriers, assuming I didn't just get liquidated for something or other.

Just like you lost your Cecilia, I would've lost everyone I cared about, more than I already have because of the School. Gallium, who sacrificed himself. The couple that took me in, murdered by a Templar. Boron, who you forced me to kill. So many of my other Batchmates that aren't here anymore...

-Clutching her rainbow necklace-

Curium, who had "planned obsolescence" built in. Vana, like her, but in a year instead of a decade.

That's the thing about you Adelinde, I don't think you're incapable of sincerely caring about others, even now I can tell "Cecilia" meant something to you, but you have no problem doing the same thing to others as was done to you. In some ways that's worse than if you were simply selfish.

I too remember everyone I've killed, and mostly I just wish there was a better way. And because I spared your life, every death on your hands is my responsibility. Dealing with you is my responsibility, not Percy's, not Tagg's, not anyone else's.

-Pacing-

Why should you stay instead of trying to kill Louise? You think yourself the best of the Templars, but I got away from you. Cleanly at that. I'm sure you'd like to see if you could actually rectify that particular black mark on your record.

-Figurative flames in her eyes as she stares into Adelinde's, not afraid in the slightest-

Also, I'd split you in two before you'd even turned immaterial if you tried. You're not the only person who's improved since then. So why not stay? Unless deep down you're afraid that even after all this time you still can't stack up to some truant.

Tagg said when you two met that you said he and the other J-Teamers were afraid that the School would one day render them obsolete. I think you were projecting, you're afraid you're the obsolete one, not them.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Dec 14th 2022 at 6:14:37 AM

Damien: "Yeah, guess so. Seems like the weather out here can be as harsh as the School in some ways. But it's certainly made You tough."

Battle Academy

Ama: "Hm. Well that does put what I'm assuming is quite a big wrench in things. Kinda reminds me of something, actually."

She shrugs.

Ama: "But if that's all you needed me for I'll just get going."

The two turn and are about to leave when Ama stops and spins on her heel to face the others again.

Ama: "... Ah! How would one go about enrolling a student in the Academy, again?"

Battle Academy

Kuthmal: Oh! That's my department's specialty! There's just some quick paperwork and abnormal circumstances to establish, and then we can get anyone set up, same day!

Dune: I was very insistent on the "same day" part.

-Tiphereth, meanwhile, allows her E.G.O. to dissipate, returning her to her normal, yellow uniform.-

Battle Academy

Ama: "Oh, wow. That's... very efficient."

Strontium looks like she has her reservations, but continues to stay quiet.

Galvani-Morton Abode

Ah, thank you once again Deziree.

-Pent steps into the penumbra of the raincloud and just seems to quickly sink into its shadow as though he had stepped into a surprisingly deep puddle-

Colosseum, Orre

-The shadows shift and Pentigan arrives here. He hums a little and begins wandering as though he's meant to be here while his eyes flit around for his contact-

Battle Academy

-The girl snatches up the tablet and starts rotating so that the clockwork owl can't read over her shoulder-

The Girl: Name Elizabeth, date of birth see additional question three... Speaking of—

-She taps Yes on the first three questions promptly and then an I Don't Know on the fourth before leaning in to look closely at the last two-

The Girl Called Elizabeth: Hey! Is this last question us?

-The owl, who has not yet seen the tablet, matches gaze with the girl-

The Owl: <You do not have any dietary Banes.>

-This girl seemingly named Elizabeth taps No to the allergens question-

The Girl Called Elizabeth Yeah but what about—? Hm... Hey! Would you say you possess a voice?

The Owl: <Yes. You ask such odd questions.>

-The girl smiles at her companion as she taps the last result on the last question and hands the tablet back to Tom at the desk-

Battle Academy

Dune: The fun part about being the boss is that sometimes things actually get done.

Kuthmal: It's quite funny how simple the paperwork here is! Back when we worked at L Corp, we had all sorts of forms that needed filling out all the time.

Orre Colosseum

-Phosphora can be seen hanging upside down from a half-fallen pillar. When she notices Pent, she waves before jumping down, landing square on her feet.-

Phosphora: Hey!

Battle Academy, The Other Time

-Tom takes the tablet back, flips through it a bit, but doesn't seem to visibly react to any of the answers on it.-

Tom: Alllllrighty, let me just get this all in and we can get you all kitted out with our school attire, and get you added to the school rolls! Oh, and you also qualify for a bursar account, due to your particular circumstances. Aside from that, it looks like after all that's set up, Ms. Kuthmal, our faculty head, will need to do a quick interview to iron out any outstanding details.

-He gives the tablet one last tap and a laminated(?) card pops out of it.-

Tom: Just follow the blue line on the floor and it'll bring you to all the places you need to get all of your school stuff done! Hold onto that card, they'll want to scan it.

-Oh, hey, that blue line wasn't there before. It leads off to a side hallway with a sign labeled "Logistics".-

Battle Academy

Ama: "That's good, I've never been good with filling out forms."

...

Ama: "So... Where is the paperwork?"

Battle Academy

-Kuthmal pulls out a tablet from her side bag.-

Kuthmal: Here ya go! Don't worry about losing or breaking it - it'll always end up back here!

Dune: Now that part I can't explain...

Battle Academy

Ama: "... Handy, I guess?? What a weird ability..."

She fills out anything mentioning a legal (or well, "legal" in her case) guardian but mostly leaves it to Strontium. Strontium seems a bit confused by some of the questions, but generally manages it on her own.

At the name section she pauses for a good long while.

Ama: "?"

Battle Academy

-Dune leans over.-

Dune: Oooooh, yep, right.

-He takes a deep breath.-

Dune: The name's always a tricky bit. I offered Ludmilla her name, but I know a few others who picked their names by themselves. I'm not gonna tell you how to go about it, but if you need time to think about it...

Battle Academy

Strontium: "..."

Ama gives her a gentle pat on the head.

Ama: "Take your time if you want to, okay?"

Strontium: "Yeah..."

Ama: "I'm assuming she can fill out the name part later? Or do you need a placeholder?"

Battle Academy

Kuthmal: No worries. I accounted for that exact situation. Just tap on it, and when the keyboard comes up just hit the "undecided" button down by the spacebar.

Dune: We can just stick to "Student" until you decide.

Battle Academy

Strontium goes ahead and does just that, fills in whatever else needs filling and hands the tablet back.

Battle Academy

Kuthmal: Thaaank you! Alright, so - would you like us to start your student orientation now, or would you like to schedule that for a later time, since this is a fairly spur of the moment thing?

Battle Academy

Ama and Strontium look at eachother and seem to have a small mental exchange.

Ama: "I think she's okay with doing it now. We're not especially busy."

She looks at Strontium.

Ama: "You want me to come with?"

Strontium gives her a small nod.

Ama: "Alright, if I'm allowed then... Lead the way?"

Battle Academy

-One fast orientation experience later...-

Kuthmal: And there you go! Seasonal variants of your uniform will be sent to your room and - speaking of which!

-She knocks on the wall.-

Kuthmal: Wuffles? Her keycard, if you don't mind?

Wuffles: [Apologies. We were distracted. Dispensing keycard for student.]

-A pipe drops from the ceiling and pops out a keycard into Kuthmal's waiting hand.-

Kuthmal: Thank you, Wuffles!

Wuffles: [Our pleasure.]

-The pipe shoots back up into the ceiling.-

Kuthmal: And with that, your new Personal Pokedex Assistant, and all of the paperwork done, that about wraps everything up! Whenever you feel comfortable, you can head to the Safari Module to catch - or perhaps even persuade - your first Partner Pokemon! Desech can give you the rundown about it when you get there. Just look for his blue uniform and the smell of coffee.